Jess recently completed her Level 3 Digital Support Technician apprenticeship whilst working at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, in the UX / Web Team. Since starting in September 2024, Jess has built technical skills, gained confidence and made a tangible impact on her team.

“I wanted to better my skills and gain another qualification whilst also working and earning money,”

Jess explains.

Her apprenticeship journey has allowed her to combine practical experience with academic growth and she’s thriving.

Tackling Challenges and Achieving Success

Like many apprentices, Jess faced challenges along the way, particularly in building confidence and public speaking. Through practice and guidance, she’s seen real personal growth.

Technically, Jess has developed expertise in digital accessibility, GDPR, encryption and helpdesk management. Her hard work culminated in achieving a distinction in her apprenticeship – a moment she proudly cites as her biggest success so far!

Supportive Learning Environment

A key factor in Jess’s journey has been her experience with LearnTech and her tutor, Peter Witherford. Peter reflects on her dedication,

“Jess has been consistently hard working throughout her apprenticeship. She has been committed to her learning and has been engaged throughout. Jess displays a real passion for the work she completes in her job role, and this has come through in all the fantastic work she’s submitted. It’s been great working with her and I’m glad that she has been rewarded for all her hard work with a well-deserved distinction.”

Jess adds,

“Peter was very supportive and engaging. I always felt comfortable and confident around him – he helped me with a lot over the course of the apprenticeship.”

Additional advice from the LearnTech team on workload management and focus helped her stay on track and feel genuinely supported. Live online training proved “engaging and useful”, further enriching her learning experience.

An Employer’s Perspective

From her team’s perspective, Jess has been a standout addition. Jenny Syrett, Senior UX Manager, explains,

“Bringing a UX apprentice into our team has delivered clear benefits and has helped us address a long-standing challenge in recruiting people with the right skills locally. After struggling to find candidates with the UX capabilities and practical experience we needed, we made the decision to ‘grow our own talent’ and Jess has proven herself to be a really valuable member of the team.”

Jenny highlights that Jess has been productive from day one, reducing pressure on existing staff, and is now ready to manage her own long-term projects. The apprenticeship has also allowed Jess to take on responsibilities beyond her initial job description, embracing new technologies and ways of working with enthusiasm.

“It’s been rewarding to see Jess grow in confidence and skills and become a fabulous member of the team and know you’re able to give your apprentice the dedicated support, teaching and experience needed to kick-start a career,”

Jenny adds.

Looking ahead, Jess’s team is keen to secure a permanent position for her within the UX team, and Jenny emphasises how Jess has exceeded expectations,

“We’re looking forward to getting her working on more dedicated UX projects, with a focus on accessibility, which she has found a passion for during her apprenticeship.”

Jenny also encourages other employers to consider apprenticeships,

“Taking on an apprentice is a highly effective way to develop talent when it’s hard to recruit experienced people, but it works best when you see it as a long-term investment. Choosing an apprentice who is a good fit for your team is essential – it means they’ll grow into the role, add real value quickly and feel motivated to build their future within your organisation.”

Jenny says,

“Working with LearnTech has been great from my perspective. I’ve been confident knowing that Jess was well supported and got regular feedback about her progress.”

Looking Ahead

Jess is optimistic about her future,

“I hope to continue with the council, but if not, an accessibility-focused role would be perfect.”

To others considering an apprenticeship,

“Do it! I wish I hadn’t gone to university and instead done an apprenticeship. I feel I have grown significantly in this – more than I did at university.”

Her journey demonstrates the success of tech apprenticeships – apprentices gain skills, confidence and qualifications, while employers nurture talented individuals who quickly become integral members of the team.

At LearnTech, we’re dedicated to empowering the next generation of tech professionals, so if you’re an organisation that would benefit from hiring a tech apprentice, explore our Employer Guide to get started, or contact us to book a no-obligation Information Session.

Alternatively, if you’re an individual inspired by Jess’s journey, take a look at our Apprentice Guide. We’re here to help, so do get in touch if you have any questions.